{"id":64021,"date":"2026-04-06T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/?p=64021"},"modified":"2026-04-06T01:29:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:29:05","slug":"mammon-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/devotionals\/mammon-test\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mammon Test","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEHEMIAH WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is your heart fully established in Christ, or is it divided by and preoccupied with material concerns?
Do you choose to be a \u201clove-servant\u201d of Jesus, or a \u201cfear-slave\u201d to mammon?
Does your level of giving reflect a focus on God\u2019s limitless Kingdom resources?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 6<\/a>:33 (AMP)<\/strong>
\u201cBut seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,\u00a0<\/em>
and all these things will be added to you.\u201d<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Mammon Test<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus said, \u201cSeek first the Kingdom of God and all else will be added to you\u201d<\/em>, He meant it. Our hearts must be firmly, securely, one hundred percent established in Him \u2013 that is an issue that simply needs to be settled. We are who we are entirely because of who He is. We must leave all fear behind and begin to truly believe that in Him is all and is in all (Colossians 3:11)<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will provide everything that is needed to fulfil our Divine purposes \u2013 as well as our daily needs \u2013 if we are willing to put His Kingdom and His righteousness first, and then step out into the unknown in faith. Success breeds more success, and with it comes \u201cthe mammon test\u201d. Every leader will experience this, probably multiple times. It can either manifest as fear of lack, or a hoarding of abundance \u2013 otherwise known as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fear of lack will disrupt the economic supply lines of the Kingdom of God if we allow it to. This fear is generated when we choose to focus on the limited resource of mammon rather than the limitless supplies of our King. The other side of this is that an unhealthy obsession with abundance may shift our focus from the Giver of abundance to the abundance itself, which will also disrupt supply. Addressing both sides of \u201cthe mammon test\u201d, Jesus plainly stated that we \u201ccannot serve God and mammon\u201d <\/em>(Matthew 6:24b NKJV).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New Living Translation puts it this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.\u201d \u2013 <\/em>Matthew 6:24 (NLT)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The word rendered \u201cserve\u201d<\/em> (\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd douleuein) means to be a slave, or to be subjected to. \u201cMaster\u201d<\/em> (\u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03af\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 kyriois) means the one (implying \u201cthe One \u2013 Jesus\u201d<\/strong>) who has supreme authority over your life. The root word translated as \u201cmoney\u201d<\/em> (\u03bc\u03b1\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd\u1fb7 mam\u014dna) has its roots in a Chaldean word that does not just imply wealth, but also avarice or greed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word rendered \u201chate\u201d<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 kataphron\u0113sei) means \u201cto detest,\u201d<\/em> and therefore the other object of desire is esteemed less, or loved less. The paragraph that contains this verse (Matthew 6:20-24)<\/strong> is subtitled \u201cTreasures in Heaven,\u201d<\/em> and in verse 21,<\/strong> Jesus succinctly states, \u201cFor where your treasure is, there your heart will be also\u201d <\/em>(Matthew 6:21 NIV).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can choose to be a \u201clove-servant\u201d<\/em> of Jesus, or a \u201cfear-slave\u201d<\/em> of mammon. Love-servants of the Kingdom have been granted unlimited access to the limitless resources of the Creator of the universe. If we do not put Jesus first in the area of finances, ultimately, we will love Him less, and resent or ignore His desire to use us as conduits of Kingdom blessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our increasing \u2013 or diminishing \u2013 levels of sowing will reflect the focus and desire of our hearts. Fear of lack, or unhealthy love of abundance, should not coexist in a heart where the Christ, the Hope of Glory, also resides; and it cannot exist in a heart where He truly reigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some points to reflect upon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n